Folding table.



Patented Nov. 21, I899.

I 0., H. SANFORD.

FOLDING TABLE.

(Application filed Apr. 29, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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NlTE STATES Eric.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,289, dated November 21, 1899.

Application filed April 29, 1899. Serial No. 715,074. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. SANFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cedar Rapids, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The objectof this invention is to produce a folding table which may be reduced to small compass when not in 'use and when extended for use is adapted to sit rigidly on a floor, however uneven, and the table may be tilted to any desired angle without the use of screws, clamps, or other fastening apparatus.

The nature of the invention will fully appear from the description and claims following, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the table as seen from the under side and in position for use. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the same folded. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective, showing the mechanism for connecting the legs with the table-top. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view central to the longitudinal brace connecting the two end rungs and illustrating the connecting devices.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A is a table-top, provided with suitable cleats A on the under side near each end. In each cleat, a little distance from the bottom of the table-top, is inserted one end of a rod B. This rod is stayed at the middle by a bracket C, which is preferably movable on the rod, so that both pairs of legs may be slid to one end of the table in folding, as shown in Fig. 2. The arrangement of the bracketis shown in Fig. 3. The lateral wings of the bracket slide under retaining-plates C, secured to the under side of the table-top and suitably ofiset to receive said bracket.

The four legs of the table D areconnected in pairs by rungs D and converge at the upper ends, as shown. At the converging ends each pair of legs is provided with a pair of hinge-plates D and is hinged to a knuckle E, adapted to slide on the rod B. A pair of buttons F on the under side of the table-top is adapted to engage these knuckles when in position for use and prevent their spreading apart when the brace G is placed in position to hold the legs spread, as shown in Fig. 1. By turning the buttons sidewise these kn uckles,as well as the central bracket, may be slid freely along the rod B. The legs are held in suitable position to support the table-top by a brace G, which in practice is made as illus trated in Fig. 4, In each rung is placed a screw-eye D and a similar screw-eye connects one of them with one end of the brace. In the other end of the brace is a hook G, adapted to engage the eye in the other rung. The table-top is held horizontally or at any desired angle by a pair of semicircular bails H, pivoted at their ends in cars I. When in position for use, theplanes of these bails are practically at right angles to the bottom of the table-top, intersecting the diagonal planes of the legs, as shown in Fig. 1. The bails are engaged by small brackets J on the legs. This engagement may be made of any desired frictional resistance, according to the relative length of the brace G, since it will be evident that as the brace is length ened the feet of the legs will be spread more apart lengthwise of the table, and the effect of this is to produce a pressure of the legbrackets on the peripheries of the bails and in a direction practically radial to said bails. The tension thus produced is peculiar in that it depends very largely upon the stifiness of the flexible bails. If they are too weak, this radial pressure on the periphery will tend to crush them inwardly or bend them out of shape; but if made of proper material, such spring-steel, and of suitable size the effect is all that could be desired. It is not even necessary that the bails should be perfectly semicircular, though they should be practi= cally so, as the flexure of the bails compensates for any slight irregularity in shape. This length may be varied at will by screwing in or out the eye or hook, or both, at the ends of the brace. When the proper adj ustment is secured, the table-top is held securely enough for all practical purposes in any de= sired position by this means alone, and when the user wishes to change the pitch he has only to push down on one side or the other of the table-top.

The construction is such as to render the table portable in comparatively small coinpass and, when set up, very convenient as a drawing-table, reading-table, cutting-table, and agreat variety of other uses. It will be observed also that the legs, being independently pivoted to the table-top, will seat themselves steadily on any floor, however uneven.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a table-top, legs pivoted thereto and converging near the center thereof, and provided with bail engaging brackets, and semicircular bails depending Vertically from the under side of the tabletop and engaging frictionally the brackets on said legs, and means substantially as described adapted to force said brackets against the peripheries of said bails, whereby the table-top is held in any desired position by the combined friction of the brackets and elasticity of the bails, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a table-top, diagonal legs converging near the center thereof and pivoted thereto, bails depending from the under side of the table-top in vertical planes intersecting the diagonal planes of the legs, brackets on said legs to engage said bails, and a brace adapted to spread the feet of said legs apart to give forcible engagement of the bails with said legs, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a table-top provided with a central, longitudinal rod on the under side, a middle bracket therefor, converging legs pivoted to the table-top by knuckles adapted to run on said rod, a brace to hold the feet of said legs apart, and means substantiallyas described for adjusting and holding the table-top in any desired position.

4. The combination of a table-top, a longitudinal rod on the under side thereof, a central bracket therefor, legs pivoted indirectly thereto, knuckles to which said legs are directly pivoted adapted to slide and turn on said rod,-buttons to hold said knuckles close to the central bracket, a brace to spread the feet of said legs apart, and means substantially as described for holding the table-top in any desired position.

5. The combination of a table-top, legs pivotally attached to the under side thereof and converging at the upper ends, semicircular bails depending vertically from the table-top and engaging said diagonal legs, and an extensible brace adapted to spread and hold the feet of the legs apart and into forcible contact with said bails, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. SANFORD.

Vitnesses:

M. H. BURTON, J. M. ST. JOHN. 

